HOUSEHOLDS in Whitworth are among some of the first in Rossendale to get the new blue wheelie bins. The bins, for recyclable materials, have been delivered to 1,200 properties in Whitworth. The three-year trial scheme, backed by £350,-000 from landfill tax funding, is a joint project between Rossendale Council and Rossendale Groundwork. It aims to halve residual waste through recycling, re-using and the composting of garden and kitchen waste. It will eventually affect 6,500 Rossendale properties and, if successful, could eventually be rolled out right across the borough. Further trials will follow over the next six months, working towards 90 per cent of Valley homes having at least a doorstep collection of paper. The blue bins - or bags in cases where bins are not suitable - will be for the collection of mixed recyclable items such as food or drinks cans, plastics or textiles, newspapers and directories. Glass should continue to go to bottle banks. The blue bins will be collected once a week and the green bins or bags on the alternative week. Each new bin is marked with the Rossendale logo and information on a sticker inside about what kind of items can be recycled. Environmental services manager David Rigby has appealed to residents to leave them at the nearest point of their property to the footpath or highway on collection days. "These bins should divert 1,000 tonnes of recycling material away from landfill a year,'' he said. "This is an important part of Rossendale's contribution to improving the environment and the whole community's support is needed to make it a success.'' But he emphasised the council did not want people to stop collecting papers for groups such as churches and scout groups, who raise money for charity through recycling them. "We want to work alongside these groups. They are already doing a great job and the last thing we want to do is compete against them,'' said Mr Rigby. The first collection commences this week. For more information call 879017.

A RETIRED vicar, who celebrates his diamond wedding anniversary this week, recalled his days as a curate and part-time air raid warden in blitzed Liverpool. While many curates were called up to serve as chaplains, the Rev Alan Shone, who was the incumbent at St Mary's with St James', Wardleworth for 18 years, gave his first blessing in an air raid. He explained: "One night during a heavy raid by German bombers I found myself in an air raid shelter full of frightened people. I prayed with them and gave them a blessing, which I think helped to allay their fears. When I went out into the street, incendiary bombs were coming down and one went through the roof of a house opposite to where I stood. I dashed into the house and the bedroom was well alight. The resident was trying to tackle the fire with a bucket of water, which was dangerous because the bombs were made of magnesium and sand should have been used." Despite the obvious dangers of such a life for a young curate, it also had its compensations. His future wife Eileen was the daughter of an air raid warden and when her father was on duty, Mr Shone went round to visit her and her mother. Mr Shone was ordained an Anglican priest at Liverpool Cathedral the day after a large bombing raid. He remembers during the procession at the ordination having to process gingerly across broken glass. When he was posted away from Liverpool, he and Eileen were constantly in touch by phone and visited each other. Eileen was just 19 when she married her clerical suitor. The couple went on to serve in parishes in the Leeds area and West Didsbury before moving to Rochdale, where they stayed for 18 years retiring in 1981. To celebrate their 60 years of marriage, Mr and Mrs Shone, of Tong Lane, Whitworth, who have three children Rosemary, Christopher and Angela, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren, are having a buffet meal for family and friends. Mr Shone said the secret of their successful marriage has been their joint faith with his wife fully supporting him in his ministry. "I love him more now than when I first met him," said Mrs Shone.

FOUR prizes from a raffle at Whitworth and Healey Horticultural Show have been left unclaimed. They are ticket numbers 385 (yellow), 584 (green), 630 (green) and 290 (yellow). To claim their prizes, winning ticket holders should contact Ken Makin on (tel: 852440).